Why is this not illegal?
Members of Congress can earmark funds in the defense bill to go directly to companies in their state or district. No bidding or competition is required, as these are essentially no-bid contracts. Executives in these companies (and the lobbyists who represent them) can then turn around and make campaign contributions to the Member of Congress who secured the earmark. It’s a practice I call “circular fundraising.”
2008 Defense Bill Earmarks for Marsha Blackburn = $0
2008 Defense Bill Earmarks for John Tanner = $3,200,000
But at least those earmarks went to URGENT, necessary and top secret military projects that are vital to the defense of our nation. Well, one of John Tanner’s earmarks went to the development and research of Zero Energy Homes at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The other earmark went to the development and research of Zero Energy Homes at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Tanner put earmarks in the Defense Bill to fight global warming! And his earmarks didn’t even go to anything in OUR STATE! Thanks, man.
But it’s okay, he got $117,000 in kickbacks from those companies that benefited from those earmarks. Life is good as a congressman.
